As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Tuesday 16 June 2015

RSPB Scotland warns against impacts of proposed Flow Country wind farm

Posted on: 13 Jun 2015

The RSPB has issued a warning about a controversial renewable energy proposal in the Flow Country, as a government inquiry draws to a close.

RSPB Scotland has expressed grave concerns over the fate of rare and scarce breeding birds if a contentious wind farm, planned for the heart of the Flow Country in Caithness and Sutherland, gets the green light. A public local inquiry has been held this week to scrutinise an application by energy giant Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE), which wants to build a 39-turbine wind farm at Strathy South. The sessions held have mainly focused on the potential impact of the development on birds, and were due to draw to a close yesterday evening (Friday 12).

RSPB Scotland's Conservation Planner for North Scotland, Peter Gordon, has highlighted the possible fate of a range of species, including Greenshank and Red-throated Diver, which breed at Strathy South. He said: "These two species are characteristic of the wildest parts of the highlands and islands and don't breed anywhere else in Britain. This wind farm would be built in an area that is very important for both species.

"One of the most wonderful wildlife experiences you can have in the Flow Country is to witness the aerial breeding display of Greenshanks as they circle and call above their territories. It is magical and sums up the spirit of these remote places, but their displays could take them straight into the spaces where the turbine blades would be spinning.

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